Three more SIMI activists arrested by Madhya Pradesh police

Bhopal, Apr 2 : Madhya Pradesh Police today arrested three more activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

With today's arrest, 24 SIMI activists have been taken into custody in the last week.

Superintendent of Police (Indore) Anshuman Singh Yadav said that the arrested have been identified as Amaan, Zakir Lala and Irfan Chhipa.

"They belong to Nihalpura and Juna Risala areas of Indore and were arrested by police from different areas," Yadav added.

Amaan was engaged in training SIMI activists, while Zakir had been the local chief of the banned outfit. Chhipa was held for helping SIMI and carrying out other illegal activities.

Cases have also filed against them for their involvement in illegal activities and for helping anti- national elements.

Yadav further said that during the interrogation, all confessed to have been working to strengthen the organisation at the behest of top SIMI leaders.

On Tuesday, one more activist was arrested. On March 31, seven more arrested on charges of providing assistance to its former chief Safdar Nagori and 12 members of the banned student organisation. On March 27, the All India General Secretary of SIMI, Safdar Nagori, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Madhya Pradesh Police along with twelve members of the banned student organisation.

The crackdown against SIMI comes just a week after Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Lok Sabha that the banned outfit and its associates were planning serial blasts in the country and the Centre has extended its ban imposed on SIMI for another two years.